Leonie Sherif is a very successful singer and songwriter who, after many years of wearing other people’s fragrances, decided that the time was right to launch her own perfume brand. Sense ‘N’ arrived in 2024, and she said at the time that “scent and sound has the power to transport us to different worlds, awakening our senses and immersing us into a realm of imagination and wonder”. What started as an initial singular perfume release has now grown into a wonderful tune-inspired trio, but it’s her latest release that we’re going to be looking at, and it’s a beautiful sun-warmed scorcher.

The first fragrance that Leonie released was called Venus, and focused on connecting with the wearer’s feminine aspects, “embracing their sensual side, their vulnerabilities, strengths and magnetic nature”. It skilfully challenged expectations, but there was more to come. 2025 saw the arrival of Twilight, which this time aimed to channel your “illuminating energy, inner fire, and enchanting nature”. Inspired by the moment when the sun is below the horizon, and the sunlight that remains takes on a blue shade, it was a wonderfully untamed exploration, and was the perfect pairing to the original releases.

This brings us onto the new perfume, evocatively named Sunburn. For this third release, Leonie Sherif wanted to explore the feeling of afterglow, the remains of intensity, the warmth that lingers after a moment has passed. This was quite an expansive inspiration, but it’s been cleverly realised in a fragrance that can be enjoyed on two levels. It’s a wonderful summer fragrance that radiates a feeling of happiness, but it has a sensual underbelly that hints of an “afterglow” that isn’t sun related. With ingredients like heliotrope, sandalwood and saffron, are you ready to enjoy the scented lingering touch of Sunburn?

The perfume opens with the smooth aroma of almond milk and green mandarin, so you’re instantly put into the summer scent arena, but the early arrival of ylang ylang and a burnt sugar note adds a gourmand touch that is delicious. This is then added to by the cherry-pie heliotrope, but this playful opening is about to get a little more risqué. A skin-smooth sandalwood is paired with incense, so there’s a sensual ceremonial quality at play, before the golden saffron note brings a more late-night warmth to the scent. With a final hit of tonka-laden amber, and a shimmering musk, Sunburn cleverly gives you the promised afterglow… but what comes before is up to you.

Sunburn is available from the Sense ‘N’ website at sensenbysherif.com priced at £115 for 50ml and £25 for 10ml. It’s also available as part of The Celestial Collection priced at £70. [Sample provided by Leonie Sherif]